5 Fantasy Football Busts You Are Dumb For Drafting In 2017

You must be a bold person when you make bold claims about players that might be 2017 Fantasy Football busts for the upcoming season!

Fantasy readers don’t want to read ambiguous advice that bounces back and forth, saying things like, “This guy could have a really good season, or it could be bad, or somewhere in between.” That’s like three seconds of your life you just lost, and you didn’t learn anything!

When you talk 2017 Fantasy Football busts, you have to build a great argument, with lots of passion and sound reasoning!

With that said – haha! – we want you to understand that these players are considered candidates to be 2017 Fantasy Football busts because of where they are currently being drafted. If these players fell a couple rounds later than where they’re going in Average Draft Positions, then those busts suddenly become decent picks worth gambling on.

Try doing a free one-man mock draft a few times to see what other options are available to you in those tricky middle rounds, like the fourth and fifth round.

2017 Fantasy Football Busts You Should Avoid Drafting!

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons – Current ADP: 5.09

Sometimes we get caught up in drafting players based off of their previous season because we expect that to be the case this year, too. Unfortunately, what’s more likely going to happen is that they’ll produce closer to an average of what they’ve done in recent years, as opposed to their most recent effort.

Ryan is still pretty good, and when we look at three-year averages, he has the fifth-best Fantasy points – behind just Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson. So really, draft Wilson instead! And for one round cheaper!

Don’t forget that the Falcons offense put together one of the best offensive seasons of the past 20 years last season, and their offensive coordinator is now the head coach for San Francisco.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Don Wright

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys – Current ADP: 2.03

News came out last week that Zeke is suspended for six games, which means that when you include the Cowboys’ Week 6 bye week, his first game in 2017 will be in Week 8.

If you take Zeke with your second overall pick – you’ll probably be among the middle of the pack hoping for a playoff spot. “Great,” you say, “now, Zeke can lead my team in the second half to guaranteed greatness!”

Unfortunately, that’s not how it all works usually. Players coming off of long suspensions like that seem to struggle initially and often get injured as they try to do too much too early, trying to make up for lost time.

The smarter move? Draft Darren McFadden in the sixth round and get close to the top of the playoff seekers by midseason! Sure, you’ll lose McFadden as a Fantasy starter once Zeke returns, but you will also have a second-round pick that you didn’t blow on the former Ohio State star!

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Philadelphia Eagles – Current ADP: 5.07

First, there were rumors that the Eagles might cut Blount for being overweight and struggling this preseason, but then, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson claims Blount will be a big part of their offense.

Remember this, Blount has not seen much success in Fantasy Football outside of Bill Belichick’s offense. He’s a big, plodding back, with bad hands. While he has a penchant for goal-line scoring, you don’t to blow a fifth-round pick on a goal-line back outside of a TD-only league from 1992.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Sammy Watkins, WR, L.A. Rams -- Current ADP: 5.12

Constantly injured? Recently traded? The top receiver on the Rams?

Where do I sign up!?!

Watkins’ Fantasy value dropped a couple rounds after the trade that sent him to Sean McVay’s Rams, and the team’s new head coach will certainly work to get him the ball. But let’s remember this is a running team first, with a below-average sophomore quarterback that has very limited NFL snaps, and an entirely new offense the rookie has to learn.

Oh yeah, and Watkins has missed 11 games in the past two seasons combined!

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins -- Current ADP: 5.10

You might see a few of these players have a recurring theme – injuries! While some players might have injuries that can be surgically repaired, or they have injuries that can heal with time, like Reed’s toe injury, some mean more injuries will come soon.

For example, Reed’s concussion history, coupled with the fact he has to cross the middle of the field where strong safeties like to hunt, makes it very likely he’ll suffer more concussions before his career is over. Every single concussion makes it easier for the next concussion to follow. (It’s like eating Lay’s chips!)

Plus, Reed’s concussion history means the Redskins will be more cautious with him, which could turn into a handful of games in which he plays just a quarter or two. That’s the Fantasy Football death knell!

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons – Current ADP: 5.09

Sometimes we get caught up in drafting players based off of their previous season because we expect that to be the case this year, too. Unfortunately, what’s more likely going to happen is that they’ll produce closer to an average of what they’ve done in recent years, as opposed to their most recent effort.

Ryan is still pretty good, and when we look at three-year averages, he has the fifth-best Fantasy points – behind just Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson. So really, draft Wilson instead! And for one round cheaper!

Don’t forget that the Falcons offense put together one of the best offensive seasons of the past 20 years last season, and their offensive coordinator is now the head coach for San Francisco.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Don Wright

2/5

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys – Current ADP: 2.03

News came out last week that Zeke is suspended for six games, which means that when you include the Cowboys’ Week 6 bye week, his first game in 2017 will be in Week 8.

If you take Zeke with your second overall pick – you’ll probably be among the middle of the pack hoping for a playoff spot. “Great,” you say, “now, Zeke can lead my team in the second half to guaranteed greatness!”

Unfortunately, that’s not how it all works usually. Players coming off of long suspensions like that seem to struggle initially and often get injured as they try to do too much too early, trying to make up for lost time.

The smarter move? Draft Darren McFadden in the sixth round and get close to the top of the playoff seekers by midseason! Sure, you’ll lose McFadden as a Fantasy starter once Zeke returns, but you will also have a second-round pick that you didn’t blow on the former Ohio State star!

3/5

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Philadelphia Eagles – Current ADP: 5.07

First, there were rumors that the Eagles might cut Blount for being overweight and struggling this preseason, but then, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson claims Blount will be a big part of their offense.

Remember this, Blount has not seen much success in Fantasy Football outside of Bill Belichick’s offense. He’s a big, plodding back, with bad hands. While he has a penchant for goal-line scoring, you don’t to blow a fifth-round pick on a goal-line back outside of a TD-only league from 1992.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke

4/5

Sammy Watkins, WR, L.A. Rams -- Current ADP: 5.12

Constantly injured? Recently traded? The top receiver on the Rams?

Where do I sign up!?!

Watkins’ Fantasy value dropped a couple rounds after the trade that sent him to Sean McVay’s Rams, and the team’s new head coach will certainly work to get him the ball. But let’s remember this is a running team first, with a below-average sophomore quarterback that has very limited NFL snaps, and an entirely new offense the rookie has to learn.

Oh yeah, and Watkins has missed 11 games in the past two seasons combined!

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

5/5

Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins -- Current ADP: 5.10

You might see a few of these players have a recurring theme – injuries! While some players might have injuries that can be surgically repaired, or they have injuries that can heal with time, like Reed’s toe injury, some mean more injuries will come soon.

For example, Reed’s concussion history, coupled with the fact he has to cross the middle of the field where strong safeties like to hunt, makes it very likely he’ll suffer more concussions before his career is over. Every single concussion makes it easier for the next concussion to follow. (It’s like eating Lay’s chips!)

Plus, Reed’s concussion history means the Redskins will be more cautious with him, which could turn into a handful of games in which he plays just a quarter or two. That’s the Fantasy Football death knell!